Railway-rail joint.



H. G. FOX.

- RAILWAY RAIL JOINT. yAPPLIGATION FILED sBPT.15, 191s.

1,092,480. Patented. Apr. 7, 1914 3 r- 7- 3* :@f/f 9- 19043 3|/ 2o`l is 3@ 2 l Q45 COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH Co..WAm!'NmoN, D. C.

FIQE."

HENRY c. FOX, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA.

RAILWAY-RAIL JoNT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 7, 1914.

Application inea september 15, 191s. serial No. 789,728.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, I-IENRY C. Fox, a citizen of the United States, residing at No. 219 National avenue, in thecity of Richmond, Vayne county, and State of Indiana,

have invented a new and useful Construction for Railway-Rail Joints, of which the following is a full, clear, and comprehensive specification and exposition, being such as will enable others to make and use the same with exactitude.

My present invention relates to improvements in means for connecting and supporting the adjoining portions of ordinary railway rails, and for preventing independent 4 vertical movements of one rail with relation to the other.

rlhe object of my invention, broadly speaking', is to provide a railway rail joint and support which will be strong and durable in construction, positive in action, neat and mechanical in appearance, and which can be manufactured, installed, and repaired at a comparatively low price.

Other objects and particular advantages of my invention will be made apparent from the following description, and that which is new and useful will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In carrying out my invention the several related parts are constructed and arranged in substantially the manner shown `in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of one of my rail joints, showing the adjoining portions of two rails, the upper faces of end portions of three ties, and the various other parts in their relative operative positions. Fig. 2 is an outside elevation of portions of two adjoining rails, the ends of three ties, with a portion of the outer shplate removed, and with the key in operative position. Fig.` 3 shows a side elevation of the adjoining end portions of two rails alone. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the assembled parts, the same being' shown as taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an isometrical detail view of the key alone. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the supporting plate and of the parts formed integral therewith, and Fig. 7 is a cross section, as taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 2.

Similar indices denote like parts throughout the several views.

In order that the construction, the arrangement, and the operation of my invention may be more fully understood, and the 1 advantages thereof be properly appreciated, j I will now take up a detail description there ofin which I will set forth the invention as briefly and as comprehensively as I may.

Referring now to the drawings in detail: fNumerals 1 and 2 denote the abutting end portions of two rails; and numerals 3, 4 and 5 denote the cross ties by which the rails `are carried in the usual manner. Resting across on top of the three ties, underneath the base of the rails 1 and 2, and extending parallel with the rails, is the body of the supporting-plate 6. Said plate is formed (preferably) of sheet metal, and from each i side thereof projects three wings which rest upon the respective ties. Said wings are formed integral with the body 6, and they are denoted by numerals 7 8, 9 on one side,

and 10, 1l and 12 on the other side. The

i wings 7 and 10 are in alinement with each other and they both rest on the tie 3. The wings 8 and 11 are in alinement with each other and they both rest on tie 4. The wings 9 and 12 are in alinement with each other and they both rest on tie 5. An aperture is formed through the end portion of each of said wings 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, and they are denoted by the respective letters a, c, ci, c and f, as shown in Fig. 6, through which the respective headed nails 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 may be inserted and driven into the ties, to retain the supporting plate and the ties in proper position, as shown in Fig. 1. At the juncture of each wing 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 with the body G the square apertures A, B, C, D, E and F, respectively, are formed, to receive the respective spikes 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24, the latter to be driven into the ties with their heads engaging the base of the rails in the usual manner, as shown in Fig. 1. Also formed integral with the body 6 of the supporting plate are the four jaws 25, 26, 27, and 28, there being one of said jaws located between each two of said wings, the same being curved upward and inward to snugly engage around the edges of the base of the rails 1 and 2, as shown in Fig. 4, in order to prevent lateral displacement of the rails.

`l\Tumerals 29 and 30 denote the two lishplates, each being formed to engage its sido of the rails l and 2 and to extend from the under side of the head of the rails downward to the lower edge of the base of the rails, there being incisions cut into the lower edge of each sh-plate to form tongues which are bent upward and rest on the respective jaws above mentioned, the tongues in iish-plate 29 being denoted by numerals 31 and 32, and those in sh-plate 30 by numerals 33 and 34. Said fish-plates extend from near the tie 3 to near the tie 5, contacting with the sides of the rails and overlapping and breaking the joint between the two rails. A plurality of apertures L are formed through the central portion of the stem oiE each rail and registering therewith are corresponding apertures formed through the two sh-plates. Through each aperture 71, and through corresponding apertures in the fish-plates is disposed a bolt 35, by which the fish-plates are clamped tightly against their respective sides of the rail. Formed Yhorizontally in the center of the web or stem of each rail and extending from the ends of the rails inward are the respective rectangular notches G and H, which combined form an oblong slot, when the ends of the rails are placed adjacent each other, as shown in Fig. 3.

Letter I denotes a key, shown in Fig. 5, whose dimensions are such as to neatly iill said slot formed by the notches Gr and H, as shown in Fig. 2. Said key is retained in place in said slot by means of the fish-plates 29 and 30 which are located on each side thereof.

From the above it is manifest that the adjoining ends of the two rails are reinforced and supported by a combination of instrumentalities: by the ties, particularly by tie 4V; by the fish-plates 29 and 30; by the plate 6; and by the key I. And the adjoining ends of the rails are prevented from lateral movement by the ties above mentioned; by

the plate 6 and its wings; by the nails and the spikes; by the jaws of plate 6; by the islrplates; and by the tongues of the shplates which overlap said jaws. However with all of the above mentioned supporting and securing means no obstruction is imposed for the usual expansion and contraction of the rails, as they are free to move endwise-a limited distance.

I desire that it be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of my invention and without sacriiicing any of the advantages thereof.

Having now fully, shown and vdescribed my invention, and the best means known to me at this time for constructing the same in a practical and a mechanical manner, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat-v 2. A railway rail joint` comprising in com-f biiiation with the adjoining ends of two rails each having a slot formed midwayof their meeting edges, a key located in the slot,'iish plates attached to the sides of the rails and retaining said key ,in its slot, cross ties supporting the rails, a plate disposed between the rails and the cross-ties, wings extend ing out from said plateV and secured to tne cross-ties, jaws formed integral with said platel and located between said wings and adapted to engage the base of the rails, and tongues formed by the lower portions of the fish-plates and adaptedto overlap said jaws,

all substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name to this specification in thel presence of two subscribingwitnesses.

HENRY C. FOX.

Vitnesses:

JOHN A. MARKLEY, CoRNELrUs R. RICHARDSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

